FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Statement attributable to:
Jennifer DeCubellis
President and CEO
America’s Essential Hospitals
Washington, D.C. – We commend Congress for preserving funding and flexibility for essential hospitals in today’s vote on the government spending package. The package eliminates two years of Medicaid DSH cuts and extends the Medicare telehealth program and Acute Hospital Care at Home waiver, measures that will allow essential hospitals to continue to provide needed services to their communities. These policies are even more critical in light of the onerous hospital cuts passed by Congress last summer. However, we are disappointed that the bill increases administrative burden through unnecessary paperwork requirements for hospital outpatient sites of care.
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About America’s Essential Hospitals
America’s Essential Hospitals is the leading association and champion for hospitals dedicated to high-quality care for all, including those who face social and financial barriers to care. Since 1981, America’s Essential Hospitals has advanced policies and programs that promote health and access to health care. We support our nearly 400 members with advocacy, policy development, research, education, and leadership development. Communities depend on essential hospitals for care across the continuum, health care workforce training, research, public health, and other services. Supported by Essential Hospitals Institute, the association’s research and education arm, essential hospitals innovate and adapt to lead all of health care toward better outcomes and value.
Contact:
James Swann
Director of Communications
jswann@essentialhospitals.org
202.585.0102
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